Harrisville State Park

Harrisville State Park
Map showing the location of Harrisville State Park

Location within the state of Michigan

Location Harrisville, Michigan
Alcona County, Michigan
Coordinates 44°38′51″N 83°17′40″W / 44.64750°N 83.29444°W / 44.64750; -83.29444Coordinates: 44°38′51″N 83°17′40″W / 44.64750°N 83.29444°W / 44.64750; -83.29444
Area 107 acres (43 ha)
Established 1921
Governing body Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Website Official website

Harrisville State Park is a heavily wooded state park on the shore of Lake Huron. It is located on U.S. Route 23 in Harrisville, Alcona County, Michigan. Established on a mere 6 acres (0.024 km2) in 1921,[1] it is one of the oldest parks in the Michigan State Park system, today encompassing some 107 acres (0.43 km2).[2] There were an estimated 151,273 visits to the park in 1996.[3]

Camping and features

Harrisville State Park features 195 campground sites, one modern bathhouse, and two mini-cabins with electricity, a fire ring, and an outdoor grill.[4] Each cabin is furnished with two sets of bunk beds and a table. The mini-cabins are designed to sleep four comfortably. Camping facilities are open from April 15 to November 1.[4]

The Cedar Run Nature Trail is a 2-mile (3.2 km) trail that was cut through the forested areas of the park as early as 1945[4] and takes about 1 hour to walk.[5][6] Other features include a swimming beach, beach house, picnic area, softball diamond, horseshoe pits, volleyball court, basketball court, children's playground, and group shelter.[4]

The park does not offer any facilities for boating or fishing, with the exception of a carry-down beach access launch for kayaks and canoes. However, there is a boat ramp in Harrisville that allows direct access to Lake Huron.[4]

This is considered to be an important location for birders, especially as large and varied migratory populations move in and through it.[7]

It is "dog friendly",[8] although dogs must remain on leashes, off the main beach, and owners must pick up after them.

The park also hosts periodic community events, such as hunter education courses.[9]

The Harrisville State Park offers bike rentals. The new program coincides with the opening of the new "Alcona Heritage Route Multi-use Trail." The trail is a three-quarter mile paved, multi-use trail heading out of the park and connects to the remainder of the trail leading into Harrisville.[6][10]

Birds and other wildlife

As with most places along the shores of Lake Huron, Harrisville State Park offers outstanding birding opportunities in May. It is not unusual to find over a dozen warbler species on a good day. Other species of birds may include nuthatches, woodpeckers, wrens, thrushes, vireos, and sparrows.[11]

Image gallery

See also

Harrisville, Michigan

References

  1. ↑ "Harrisville State Park," StateParks.com, Accessed June 23, 2007.
  2. ↑ "Harrisville State Park". Retrieved 2011-09-27.
  3. ↑ Spencer DM, Kim DK, and Alexander PJ (1998) "Alcona County Tourism Profile," Travel, Resource, and Recreation Center of Michigan State University, Accessed June 23, 2007.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Profile for Harrisville State Park," The Weather Channel, Accessed June 23, 2007.
  5. ↑ "Trails," Huron Shore Chamber of Commerce, Accessed June 23, 2007.
  6. 1 2 "Harrisville State Park Detail". state.mi.us.
  7. ↑ Alcona County birding, map and narrative.
  8. ↑ "Pet-Friendly RV Parks and Campgrounds - Harrisville State Park in Harrisville Michigan 48470". dogfriendly.com.
  9. ↑ Michigan government press release.
  10. ↑ Alcona Review, June 28, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Alcona County Birding Locations," Birds-n-Such, Accessed June 23, 2007.

External links

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